Clamping Unit

ABSTRACT

A clamping unit comprising a base having a first jaw and a spike and the spike extends from the first jaw, and the first jaw has a first jaw spring recess. There is a second jaw having a second jaw spring recess. A torsion spring positioned in the first and second jaw spring recesses and attached to the first jaw and the second jaw, such that the torsion spring is disposed internal to the clamping unit. The first jaw has a crest and the second jaw has a trough and the crest of the first jaw is receivable in the trough of the second jaw and the torsion spring is for forcing the first and second jaws into a closed position.

BACKGROUND

Outdoor activities often call for the use of a blanket, towel, mat orthrow rug for people to sit on. For example, people often relax on abeach towel while spending a day at a beach. Or, people may place ablanket on the ground and sit on the blanket and have a picnic. Inaddition, campers may place a canvas on the ground at their campsite.

A problem exists, however, when the wind blows. The wind is capable oflifting the towel and folding the towel over on itself, or the wind mayeven blow the towel away. In addition, when people walk on the toweltheir feet may accidentally kick the towel up off the ground, and thetowel has to be re-positioned and spread out on the beach. To deal withthese problems some people have resorted to placing rocks or sticks onthe towel in order to hold the towel to the ground. Although suchweights may hold the towel down, they simultaneously create a trippinghazard to anyone walking on or off the towel, especially at night or inother low light conditions. Such weights are especially dangerous toinfants and children, and are not pleasing to look at.

Thus, it would be desirable if there were an easy to use, lightweightdevice for holding down towels, blankets, etc.

SUMMARY

A clamping unit comprising a base having a first jaw. The base has aspike that extends from the first jaw and the first jaw has a first jawspring recess. There is provided a second jaw having a second jaw springrecess. A torsion spring positioned in the first and second jaw springrecesses and attached to the first jaw and the second jaw to hold theclamping unit together. The first jaw has a crest and the second jaw hasa trough and the crest of the first jaw is receivable in the trough ofthe second jaw. The torsion spring is for forcing the first and secondjaws into a closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a clamping unit in a closed position.

FIG. 1A is a top plan view of the clamping unit.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the taken along line A-A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the clamping unit.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a second jaw of the clamping unit.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a first jaw of the clamping unit.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of a torsion spring.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged top plan view of the torsion spring.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the torsion spring.

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the clamping unit in an openposition.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the clamping unit in a closedposition and clamping a towel.

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the second jaw of another embodiment.

FIG. 12. is a top plan view of the first jaw of another embodiment.

DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a clamping unit 20 of the present invention. The clampingunit 20 includes a base 22 having a first jaw 24 and a spike 25, and thespike 25 is joined to and extends from the first jaw 24. The first jaw24 and spike 25 are, in one of the preferred embodiments, a one piecebody. In other preferred embodiments the first jaw 24 and spike 25 maybe two pieces that are threaded together. The spike 25 has groundengaging fins 27, and as shown in FIG. 2 there are four such fins 27.Each fin 27 is substantially perpendicular to an adjacent fin 27. Thespike 25 has a spike tip 29. In other preferred embodiments, there maybe more or less than four fins 27, and the spike 25 may have differentcross sections.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first jaw 24 has an exterior surface 35. Thefirst jaw 24 has clamping end 26 and an opposed gripping end 28, and aclamping portion 30 that meets with a first gripping portion 31. Movingto left to right in FIGS. 3 and 5, the clamping portion 30 has a firstjaw clamping surface 32 with a wavy pattern 33. The first jaw clampingsurface 32 has a crest 34 that extends to a trough 36, that extends to asubstantially flat portion 38. The crest 34 and trough 36 extend acrossthe width, designated W in FIG. 5, of the first jaw 24. Adjacent thesubstantially flat portion 38 is a first jaw spring recess 40 that spansthe width W of the first jaw 24. The gripping portion 31 has a slopedsurface 42 that extends in a direction toward the spike tip 29. Thefirst jaw 24 has an opening 46 proximal the gripping end 28 that extendsthrough the first jaw 24. In other preferred embodiments, the opening 46may be replaced with a recess that extends into the first jaw 24.

As shown in FIG. 3, the clamping unit 20 further includes a second jaw54 having an exterior surface 55. The second jaw 54 has a clamping end56 and an opposed gripping end 58, and a clamping portion 60 that meetswith a second gripping portion 61. Moving to left to right in FIGS. 3and 4, the clamping portion 60 has a second clamping surface 62 that hasa wavy pattern 63. The second clamping surface 62 has a trough 64 thatextends to a crest 66, that extends to a substantially flat portion 68.The trough 64 and crest 66 extend across the width, designated W1 inFIG. 4, of the second jaw 54, and the width W1 of the second jaw 54 isthe same as the width W of the first jaw 24. Adjacent the substantiallyflat portion 68 is a second jaw spring recess 70 that spans the width W1of the second jaw 54. The gripping portion 61 has a sloped surface 63that extends in a direction away from the second jaw spring recess 70.The second jaw 54 has an opening 72 proximal the gripping end 58 thatextends through the second jaw 54, and in another preferred embodimentthe opening 72 may be replaced with a recess that extends into thesecond jaw 54.

FIGS. 6-8 show a torsion spring 80 (also referred to herein as spring80) that connects the first jaw 24 and the second jaw 54. In otherpreferred embodiments, other suitable spring devices may be used. Thetorsion spring 80 works by torsion or twisting, and when it is twistedit stores energy. The amount of force a torsion spring 80 is capable ofexerting is proportional to the amount the torsion spring 80 is twisted.Torsion springs are well know to those having ordinary skill in the art.The torsion spring 80 has a coiled portion 82 with opposed first andsecond ends 86, 88, respectively. A first leg 83 extends from the firstend 86, and a second leg 84 extends from the second end 88, as shown.The first leg 83 has an first leg extension 90 that extends in adirection toward the second end 88 of the torsion spring 80. The secondleg 84 has a second leg extension 92 that extends in a direction towardfirst end 86 of the torsion spring 80.

To assemble the clamp device 20, the coiled portion 82 of the torsionspring 80 is positioned in the first jaw spring recess 40 formed in thefirst jaw 24. The first leg extension 90 of the first leg 83 ispositioned in the opening 46 in the first jaw 24. Then, the second jaw54 is aligned with and moved adjacent to the first jaw 24, such that thecrest 34 and trough 36 of the first jaw 24 are adjacent to the trough 64and crest 66 of the second jaw 54, and the second jaw spring recess 70is adjacent the torsion spring 80 such that the torsion spring 80 may bereceived therein. The first and second jaws 24, 54 are moved together,and a force is applied to the second leg extension 92 of the second leg88 of the torsion spring 80 causing it to rotate in a clockwisedirection as viewed in FIG. 3 and store energy. The second leg extension92 is rotated until it is aligned with the opening 72 in the second jaw54. The second leg extension 92 is moved into the opening 72 in thesecond jaw 54, such that the first and second jaws 24, 54, are connectedto one another by the torsion spring 80, and the spring 80 securelypositioned in the first and second jaw spring recesses 40, 70. Afterinstallation of the spring 80, the first and second legs 82, 84, andassociated first and second leg extensions 90, 92, apply a force on thefirst and second jaws 24, 54. In particular, the crest 34 and trough 36of the first jaw 24 are forced into and abut against the trough 64 andcrest 66 of the second jaw 54 due to the force applied by the spring 80.In this manner the clamping unit 20 is maintained in a closed position98 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10.

The torsion spring 80 is positioned internal to the assembled clampingunit 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the spring 80 is positioned a springdistance designated D in FIG. 1, from the gripping ends 28, 58, of thefirst and second jaws 24, 54. The first and second jaws 24, 54, pivot onthe torsion spring 80. This advantageously provides for increasedclamping force applied to the clamping ends 26, 56, of the first andsecond jaws 24, 54, as compared to the clamping force that would beapplied to the clamping ends 26, 56, if the same torsion spring 80 wereto be mounted, for example in the space defined between the grippingportions 31, 61. In addition, the torsion spring 80 is interlocked tothe first and second jaws 24, 54, which advantageously reduces thepossibility of the torsion spring 80 working its way out of the clampingunit 20 after repeated use. In addition, because the torsion spring 80is positioned in the first and second jaw spring recesses 40, 70, thecrest 34 and trough 36 of the first jaw 24 is advantageously in completeabutting contact with the trough 64 and crest 66 of the second jaw 54.

The clamping unit 20 is preferably plastic, but may comprise metal,wood, fiberglass, composites, and combinations thereof, except for thetorsion spring 80 which in one of the preferred embodiments is springsteel or other suitable metal or metal alloy.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, in use the spike 25 of the clamping unit 20is forced into the ground 100 (also referred to herein as sand 100). Thespike 25 may be introduced into the ground or sand 100 until the firstjaw clamping surface 32 is flush with or slightly elevated above thesurrounding ground/sand 100. Of course, the clamping device 20 willfunction if introduced deeper into the sand/ground 100, but surroundingsoil/sand may move between the first and second jaws 24, 54, as they areopened and closed. The user may step on the exterior surface 55 of thesecond jaw 54 to introduce the spike 25 into the ground 100. It ispointed out that the clamping unit 20 may be constructed and havesufficient strength such that it may be pounded into the ground 100 witha hammer or mallet and not be damaged in the process. After the clampingunit 20 has been introduced moved into the ground 100 it is in a closedposition 98 as shown in FIG. 1. Then, the user manually grips the firstand second gripping portions 31, 61, and applies a compressive forcedesignated by the arrows F in FIG. 9, to each such that the second jaw54 rotates away from the first jaw 24 in a clockwise direction asindicated by the arrow designated C. The torsion spring 80 resists theopening of the first and second jaws 24, 54. The clamping unit 20 is inan open position 99 as shown in FIG. 9. An article, for example ablanket 102, is moved into a gap 104 defined between the open first andsecond jaws 24, 54, in the direction of arrow B. The user then releasesthe first and second gripping portions 31, 61, and the second jaw 54closes on the first jaw 24 and the clamping unit 20 is in the closedposition 98. The blanket 102 is then compressed between the first andsecond jaws 24, 54, and held in position by friction forces andcompressive forces. To release the blanket 102 from the closed position98, the user manually grips the first and second gripping portions 31,61, and applies a force, designated F in FIG. 9, to each such that theythe second jaw 54 rotates away from the first jaw 24, and while theclaming device 20 is in the open position 99, the user pulls the blanket102 out of the clamping unit 20. It is pointed out that the user may useas many clamping units 20 as needed to hold the blanket 102 to theground 100. For example, four clamping units 20 with one being used ateach corner of the blanket 102 may be sufficient, but if the blanket 102is large and there are high winds, additional clamping units 20 may beused to secure the blanket 102 to the ground. The clamping unit 20 isreusable. In addition, the clamping unit 20 may be clamped to theblanket 102 before it is introduced into the ground/sand 100, and theintroduction of the spike 25 into the ground/sand 100 may stopped whenthe blanket 102 is flush with the surrounding ground/sand 100.

In addition, the crest 34 and trough 36 of the first jaw 24, and thetrough 64 and crest 66 of the second jaw 54 advantageously provide forincreased surface area for enhanced holding of the blanket 102, ascompared to, for example flat jaws. And, in one of the preferredembodiments, the crest 34 and trough 36 of the first jaw 24, and thetrough 64 and crest 66 of the second jaw 54 are smooth so that theblanket 102 is not damaged when held by the first and second jaws 24,54. This advantageously prevents the blanket 102 from snagging on thefirst and second jaws 24, 54, in the event the user applies a strongpulling force on the blanket 102 inadvertently, or intentionally whilepicking up the blanket 102. In other preferred embodiments, the crest 34and trough 36 of the first jaw 24, and the trough 64 and crest 66 of thesecond jaw 54 may have a textured surface 109. For example protrusions110 with smooth or rough surfaces may extend therefrom, for enhancingthe frictional engagement of the first and second jaws 24, 54, with theblanket 102 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 in a non-damaging manner.

It is to be understood that in other preferred embodiments the first jaw24 may have more than one crest 34 and trough 36 and the second jaw 54may have more than one trough 64 and crest 66, so long as the crests 34are received in the troughs 64, and the crests 66 are received in thetroughs 36.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the exterior surface 55 of the second jaw 54 in oneof the preferred embodiments has the shape of a clam shell, but may beotherwise shaped in other preferred embodiments.

While the clamping unit has been described in connection with certainembodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention tothe particular forms set forth. On the contrary, the invention isintended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents asmay be included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. A clamping unit comprising: a base having a first jaw and a spike andwherein the spike extends from the first jaw and the first jaw has afirst jaw spring recess; a second jaw having a second jaw spring recess;a torsion spring positioned in the first and second jaw spring recessesand attached to the first jaw and the second jaw; and and wherein thefirst jaw has a crest and the second jaw has a trough and the crest ofthe first jaw is receivable in the trough of the second jaw and thetorsion spring is for forcing the first and second jaws into a closedposition.
 2. The clamping unit according to claim 1 wherein the firstjaw has a first gripping portion and the second jaw has a secondgripping portion such that when the first and second gripping portionsare compressed the second jaw rotates on the torsion spring a directionaway from the first jaw to open the clamping unit.
 3. The clamping unitaccording to claim 1 wherein the first jaw has a gripping end and aclamping end and the second jaw has a gripping end and a clamping endand wherein the torsion spring is positioned a spring distance from thegripping ends of the first and second jaws and the spring distance isfor maximizing the clamping force applied at the clamping ends of thefirst and second jaws.
 4. The clamping device according to claim 1wherein the spike has fins that are substantially perpendicular to oneanother.
 5. The clamping unit according to claim 1 wherein the spike andthe first jaw are one piece.
 6. The clamping unit according to claim 1wherein at least one of the crest and trough of the first jaw has atextured surface for enhancing the engagement made between the clampingunit and an article clamped.
 7. The clamping unit according to claim 1wherein at least one of the crest and trough of the second jaw has atextured surface for enhancing the engagement made between the clampingunit and an article clamped.
 8. The clamping unit according to claim 1wherein the torsion spring has a coiled portion with opposed first andsecond ends and a first leg extends from the first end and a second legextends from the second end, and the first leg has an first legextension and the second leg has a second leg extension and wherein thefirst leg extension of the first leg is positioned in an opening in thefirst jaw, and the second leg extension of the second leg is positionedin an opening in the second jaw such that the first and second jaws areconnected to one another.
 9. The clamping unit according to claim 8wherein the first jaw has opposed clamping and gripping ends and thesecond jaw has opposed second jaw clamping and gripping ends and thetorsion spring for forcing the clamping ends together.
 10. A method ofmaking a clamping unit comprising: providing a base having a first jawand a spike and extending the spike from the first jaw, and defining afirst jaw spring recess in the first jaw; providing a second jaw anddefining a second jaw spring recess in the second jaw; providing atorsion spring and positioning the torsion spring in the first andsecond jaw spring recesses and attaching the first jaw and the secondjaw with the torsion spring; and providing the first jaw with a crestand the second jaw with a trough and positioning the crest of the firstjaw in the trough of the second jaw and using the torsion spring forforcing the first and second jaws into a closed position.
 11. The methodof making a clamping unit according to claim 10 further includingproviding the first jaw with a first gripping portion and providing thesecond jaw with a second gripping portion such that when the first andsecond gripping portions are compressed the second jaw rotates on thetorsion spring in a direction away from the first jaw to open theclamping unit.
 12. The method of making a clamping unit according toclaim 10 further including providing the first jaw with a gripping endand a clamping end and providing the second jaw with a gripping end anda clamping end and positioning the torsion spring a spring distance fromthe gripping ends of the first and second jaws and the spring distanceis for maximizing the clamping force applied at the clamping ends of thefirst and second jaws.
 13. The method of making a clamping unitaccording to claim 10 further including providing the torsion springwith a coiled portion having opposed first and second ends and extendinga first leg from the first end and extending a second leg from thesecond end, and providing the first leg with a first leg extension andproviding the second leg with a second leg extension and positioning thefirst leg extension of the first leg in an opening in the first jaw, andpositioning the second leg extension of the second leg in an opening inthe second jaw such that the first and second jaws are connected to oneanother.
 14. The method of making a clamping unit according to claim 13further including providing the first jaw with opposed clamping andgripping ends and providing the second jaw with opposed second jawclamping and gripping ends and using the torsion spring for forcing theclamping ends together.
 15. The method of making a clamping unitaccording to claim 10 wherein further including providing at least oneof the crest and trough of the first jaw with a textured surface forenhancing the engagement made between the clamping unit and an articleclamped.
 16. The method of making a clamping unit according to claim 10further including providing at least one of the crest and trough of thesecond jaw with a textured surface for enhancing the engagement madebetween the clamping unit and an article clamped.